Young Chris Kevin
Do you ride a motorbike, or a race car? Whoever you are, if your passion involves driving motorbikes and race cars, then you should know something about brake fade. What is a brake fade? How are brake fade problems resolved? Why is there a need to know those things?
Brake fade is a situation wherein the brake becomes too hot. To illustrate further, say for example you are driving down a steep mountain or road; then you apply brake to slow your car down. That act causes the brake to convert kinetic into thermal energy, which heats up the brake itself. With continuous using the brake, it will get too hot and will no longer have the chance to cool off. When this happens, the time you try to use your brake, it can no longer absorb much heat. In this case, you should check the frictional material, resin that holds pad together. Resin, if subjected to extreme heat may transform to gas. Then, the vapor tries to escape and form thin layer in between the pad and the rotor. The two will loose contact, thus reducing friction.
How will you solve brake problems? First, bring your car to a stop for several minutes. Then, obviously the brake components will cool down and is again ready to perform its function well. In case it doesn’t work, the damage is worse and you should let technicians to check on your car. If it can be fixed, then fix it, but if it is really damaged replacement is the solution.
Anchoring on those concepts, engineers design brakes that will eliminate or reduce brake fade. They either give way for the vaporized gas to escape, or find ways in cooling the rotors off. Understanding brakes may lead to total understanding of your car.
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